Total Ships First Carbon Neutral LNG Cargo

French Total has delivered its first shipment of carbon neutral LNG to the Chinese state-owned Cnooc, it said on October 20.

The loading operation was carried out at the Ichthys liquefaction and export plant in Australia, and the shipment was delivered on September 29 to the Dapeng terminal, China. Total has a 26% stake in the 8.9mn mt/yr Ichthys LNG project, which is operated by Japan’s Inpex Corporation.

“This first LNG shipment, whose carbon emissions have been offset throughout the value chain, represents a new step as we seek to support our customers towards carbon neutrality,” said Laurent Vivier, president for gas at Total. “The development of LNG is essential to meet the growth in global demand for energy while reducing the carbon intensity of the energy products consumed.”

The carbon footprint of the LNG shipment was offset with verified carbon standards emissions certificates financing two projects: the Hebei Guyuan wind power project, which aims to reduce emissions from coal-based power generation in northern China, and the Kariba Redd+ forest protection project, which aims to protect Zimbabwe's forests, Total said.